Five on Friday: End of Break Funk

I’m trying hard not to fall into an end of break funk. This break has been fine. It’s been good! I feel like I’m not checking all the things off my to-do list, but I also feel like I’m using my time relatively wisely. I’m certainly not wasting it. And there have been plenty of very lovely moments. I think my “Five” this Friday will be highlighting the positives of this break, to help combat the end of break funk I feel creeping in.

The Calendar

I’m actually a little behind on the calendar, but I’ve gotten a rough draft of it done. And looking through the photos from this year, I am reminded of how much fun we’ve had on different trips. Our trip to the snow in February was a surprisingly good time. The 4th of July at my uncle’s “farm” in St. Louis with cousins was super fun. The week after in Charleston with my cousin and her kids was amazing. And our week in Hawaii with my husband’s friends was incredible. We also had a great time at Universal Studios. That is FIVE really awesome experiences that we shared this past year. We are very lucky, and I have tons of photos documenting it all.

Visits with friends and family

I had an impromptu visit with a friend earlier this week. Wednesday night we brought dinner to friends and met their new baby. Of course yesterday we were with my parents and long-time family friends (my dad’s best friend from childhood) for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow we’re going to my in-laws in the morning and spending the evening with the kids’ friends at Great America. It’s been a nice mixture of family time and seeing other people. I’m glad for that.

Productive purchases

I have quite a few things for the kids for Xmas already, all purchased at deep discount. I got my parents and sister tickets to a show at SFSketchFest (a regular Xmas present for my parents, because I’m always trying to get them experiences, not stuff). For Black Friday we got a tent and two sleeping bag at almost half off (we plan to go camping this year, with my son’s 4th grade National Parks Pass), a bigger memory card for the Switch, and a new neck/back massager for me (my old one has been sewn back together so many times, I just couldn’t fix it again). I also got my son two pairs of the Nike’s he wears to shreds, and my daughter a pair of Converse (for Xmas). Woot!

Runs in the sun

I ran twice, last weekend of the Great Highway and today at my favorite park. I haven’t been up to the park in a while and it was nice to be up there in the sun. It wasn’t even windy! I really needed to get out, and away from my family for an hour today, and was so happy to do it here.

Good TV + Reading

I watched Season 1 of Yellowjackets by myself and my husband and I are finishing Season 2 of The Bear. Both were stellar. My son and I finally started Season 2 of Loki, which is also great. I’m also listening to a really good audiobook (La Ciudad y la Ciudada – the Spanish version of The City and The City by China Miéville). My husband is reading it in English and it’s fun to talk to him about it (it has a very strange premise). It’s been nice to have the time in the evenings to watch some TV. I’ve also had some time (though not enough) to read my print book, which is also really good (a police procedural in Spanish called Las Madres).

Tackling the to-do list

I may not have gotten as much done as I wanted, but I have crossed off many a to-do list item. The tree is up and decorated (and withstanding the frequent assaults by the cats). {I am SO GLAD I got an extra box of the lights we use from Costco years ago – they change from white to colors and I love them and when half of one set went out this year I just grabbed the new box!} The TV is now secured to its stand (because said cats have started attacking it too). My daughter’s art nook is ready for her to create her three submissions (due mid-December!) The advent calendars and other treats for at least the first half of the month are ready for our Elf on a Shelf’s arrival (our Elf leaves little gifts to make the wait more manageable, she does not surveil bad behavior). The new bathroom tile has been chosen (this took WAY longer than expected) and will be ordered soon (I just have to ask the handyman some questions about quantity). A bunch of old junk got picked up. The outdoor couch (from the pandemic days) was retrieved by a new owner, leaving a ton of space in the shed. Stuffing was made and shared (yes I only bring over the simplest side dish). Christmas resents were purchased. My niece’s birthday present was ordered. The car was serviced. I ordered new glasses (including my first dedicated pair of reading glasses (with my astigmatism Rx included). FSA paperwork was submitted for the second half of the year (which will help pay for all those productive purchases!) It’s a lot of things! And they’re all done now!

And there are still two more days before I go back to work. Tomorrow is probably a wash, but Sunday I can get things done. Just writing all this out has definitely helped tame the End of Break Funk I was feeling. And now to finish Season 2 of The Bear!